The Unified Victim Identification System (UVIS) was activated in New York City earlier this month to manage and coordinate all activities related to patient reunification and identification. UVIS is being used to help families locate loved ones, living or deceased, who may have been admitted or transferred to health care facilities. UVIS coordinates efforts between the City’s 311 system, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and health care facilities to help families locate their loved ones.

Prior to the activation of UVIS, all hospitals were asked to identify a single phone number that the NYPD could contact for any UVIS-related inquiries. Hospitals were asked to staff this line 24/7. Due to a low volume of calls during the overnight hours, the City is adjusting staffing hours for UVIS-related inquiries from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. Effective immediately, hospitals are required to staff their NYPD-designated lines for UVIS-related calls only from 6:00 a.m. to midnight (rather than 24/7). New York City will continue to monitor call volume and make further adjustments to staffing hours as needed.